Head support



1953 H. B. WHITLEY ET AL 2,663,029

HEAD SUPPORT Filed Dec. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Henry B. Whitley Eunice G. Whitley IN VEN TORS BY I (W 3% 1953 H. B. WHITLEY ET AL 2,663,029

HEAD SUPPORT Filed Dc. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6

Henry B. Whitley Eunice 6. Whitley INVENTORS Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATE HEAD SUPPORT Henry B. Whitley and Eunice G. Whitley,

'Durham, N. 0.

Application December 13, 1951 Serial No. 261,476

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in head supports and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a small and compact head rest and back support for bed patients that may be quickly and readily adjusted to a comfortable angle.

Another important object of the present inventionis to. provide a head support composed of parts that are quickly and readily assembled or disassembled to permit the device to be transported as a small article, and which also facilitates cleaningof the flexible backing forming part of the support;

A further object of the present invention is to provide a head support composed of two U-shaped tubular frames that are'connected together by a novel and improvedmeans which functions as a combined reinforcing and strengthening member,,a pivot and a backing holder.

A still further aim ofthe'present invention is to provide ahead support or the aforementioned Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 22 of Figure 1 and showing a user, in dotted lines positioned relative thereto;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention in a folded and used position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 1; and, v

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing one part of the frame removed from the other main part to illustrate how the backing may be removed for cleaning.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral it represents a U-shaped tubular base frame including a pair of leg por- 2 tions l2 "that are Joined at one of their ends by a web portion M. The ends of the base frame and more particularly the free ends of the leg portions I2 are formed with transverse apertures l6 for a purpose presently to be described.

' A tubular U-shaped supporting frame 13 comprises the other main half of the present head support and includes a pair of leg portions 20 joined at oneof their ends by a web portion or cross-piece 22. The other ends of the leg portions 20 are provided with transverse apertures 24 that register with the apertures [6.

Means is provided for joining the frames l0 and IB whereby the frame l8 may be pivoted to a desired vertically inclined position. This means comprises a tubular member or cross-bar 2B having internally threaded sleeves or nuts 28 frictionally fittedin its ends. The sleeves 28 abut the leg portions 20 and their bores register with the apertures l6 and 14., Combined bolts and pivots Sllextend through the apertures l6 and 24,

and their threaded ends are receivably engaged in the bores of sleeves 28 to pivotally secure the frames together.

The ends of flexible backing 32, preferably canvas, are secured to themselves by stitching or the like to provide transverse end casings or sleeves 34 and 36 that receive the web portion 22 and cross-bar 26, respectively. The backing 32 is removably retained on the supporting frame l8 and extends parallel to and between the leg portions 20. Sleeve 34 is slightly curved to conform to the curvature of cross-piece 22.

A flexible strap 38, preferably of canvas, extends transversely between leg portions 20 and its ends are secured to themselves to provide casings or sleeves 40 that slidably receive the leg portions 20. Strap 38 is also removably retained on frame 18 and extends transversely across and behind the backing to reinforce and strengthen the same. Strap 38 also prevents undue sagging or flexing of the backing. I

Means is provided for retaining the frame I8 vertically inclined relative to the frame I0. This means comprises a U-shaped brace -42 having inturned lateral projections 44 at its ends that enter apertures 46 provided in the leg portions 20 of frame I8. Pairs of longitudinally spaced L-shaped lugs 48 are suitably fixed to the leg portions l2 of frame it] and coact with the leg portions l2 in defining channels for selectively receiving the web portion of brace 42.

Member 26 and its associated fasteners 28, functions as a combined reinforcing and strengthening means for base frame I 0, a pivot means for the frame 18, a connection between the two frames and a retainer or holder for the backing. The frames are readily disassembled by removing bolts 3B, after which backing 32 and strap 38 may be removed from frame [8, for cleaning, repair or the like.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A head support comprising a U-shaped tubular base frame, a U-shaped tubular supporting frame, means pivotally and removably securing the ends of the base frame to and against the facing peripheries of the ends of the supporting frame, a brace swingably carried by .thesupporting frame, means secured to thebase frame engaging the brace to retain the supporting frame inclined relative to the base frame, .a removable backing having terminal sleeves removably .engaging the web of the supporting frame and the first named means, and a supportingstrap removably supported solely by the supporting frame and extending behind the backing, said supporting strap having terminal sleeves receiving the limbs of the supporting frame, said first named means includes a tubular cross bar extending between the ends of said base frame, an internally threaded sleeve fitted in each end of said bar and engaging the facing peripheries of the ends of of said first frame, each of said frames having transverse apertures in their ends in registry with each other and said nuts, bolts extending through said apertures and threadedin said nuts to pivotally secure the ends of the frames together, said second frame including a web portion remote from said bar, a removable flexible backing having terminal sleeves receiving said bar and said web portion, and a brace carried by the second frame engaging the first frame to retain the frames inclined relative to each other.

3. A back and head rest comprising first and second U-shaped tubular frames, a tubular cross bar extending between the ends of said first frame, a pair of nuts fitted in the ends of said bar and engaging the facing peripheries of the ends of said first frame, each of said frames having transverse apertures in their ends in registry with each other and said nuts, bolts extending through said apertures and threaded in said nuts to pivotally secure the frames together, said secondframeincluding' a web portion remote from said bar, a U-shaped brace swingably carried by the brace to retain the second frame inclined relative to the first frame, and an elongated flexible backing having transverse end sleeves receiving saidbar and said web portion.

HENRY B. WHITLEY. EUNICE G. WHITLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 579,660 Williamson et a1. Mar. 30, 1897 635,578 Nixon Oct. 24, 1899 1,444,024 Burdick Feb. 6, 1923 2,133,223 Brightman et al. Oct. 11, 1938 2,204,722 Bowles June 18, 1940 2,450,654 Gleitsman et a1. Oct. 5, v1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 511,866 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1939 986,089 France Mar. 21, 1951 

